Electrically-propelled toy automobile



June 2, 1925.

R. J. FRICK ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED TOY AUTOMOBILE Filed Jan. 24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wit news June 2, 1925.

R. J. F RICK ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED TOY AUTOMOBILE Filed Jan. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III II!!! v IE... E!

Wanna Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES RALPH J. ERICK, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLE-D TOY AUTOMOBILE.

Application filed January 24, 1923. Serial No. 614,631.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, RALPH J. FRIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented an Electrically-Propelled -Toy Automobile, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to an improved electrically driven vehicle, and it has more'particular reference to a self-propelled toy which is constructed to simulate a full-sized conventional automobile, the present toy being of a size which is par ticularly adaptable for a child.

The principal advantage of the present invention is that it is so constructed to render it comparatively inexpensive to both the manufacturer and the user, the. same possessing the general contour and lines of a full-sized high priced car, but being e2;- ceedingly light in weight and such in construction that it can be safely driven by small children.

In carrying out the invention, it has been my principal aim to equip it with a novel ili'oot-actuated motor-controlling switch which is disposed on the foot-board of the machine so as to simulate the customary foot-accelerator. As will be later observed, the switch is automatic in its operation, that is, it is automatically returned to circuit-opening position the moment the operators foot is disengaged therefrom. Hence, it is compulsory for the operator to'maintain his foot on the so-called accelerator so long as the machine is in operation. In the event that the child should by accident be thrown from the machine due to overturning or otherwise, the current to the motor immediatelyceases andthe car stops.

It is, another feature of the invention to associate with the aforesaidfoot-actuated switch, a positive brake which is active on the armature shaft of the motor, means being included in the electric circuit for immediately applying the brake the moment that the foot-controlled switch is opened, and for disengaging the brake as soon as pressure is applied to the foot-actuated means for the switch.

I aim further to utilize a unique switch in association with the foot-operated means herein referred to, the switch including separate selectively operated contacts, one of which imposes resistance in the circuit when in use, and the other of which disposes of it is of course understood that it could this resistance. Hence, a vehicle is pro vidcd which has two speeds, the speed being controlled at the will of the driver.

Numerous other structural features and advantages of the invention will become evi-- dent from the following description;

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts througl'iout the same I Figure 1 designates a side elevation, with portions in section, of a toy automobile constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 represents an enlarged detail sectional view, with portions in elevation, of the so-called foot-accelerator and switch.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 6.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinalsec tion through the transmission gearing, the view being taken substantially on the line:

4-4 of Fig. 6.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1. p Figure 6 is a top plan view of the toy. Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the reference character .1 designates generally the metallic body of a miniature automobile, this body being shaped, as before stated, to simulate, as nearly as possible, the body of a full sized conventional automobile. VVhiIe the body shown resembles an ordinary racer.

well be constructed to simulate any of the other various styles of machines.

In the showing, the body is provided with a hood 2, at the forward end of which is a dummy radiator In front of the 00- cupants seat, is the usual inclined steering rod column 5, at the upper end of which is the usual hand-wheel 6. Below the steering column is the inclined foot-board 7. f

The body 1 is supported on a. chassis 8 such as is better seen in Fig. 6, and the chasshe in turn is supported by a plurality of rubber-tired metal dislcwheels 9. While on the structure of the chassis, attention may well be confined to Fig. 6, wherein it will be observed that the same includes the usual longitudinal side bars 10, cross braces 11, a transverse reinforcing member 12, front and rear axles 13 and ll. and a special motor supporting rod 15 which is disposed transversely between the side bars just in ad v: nce of the rear axle. Also, as seen bettermounted on the motor.

in Fig. 1,'t-he forward end of the body carries suitable springs 16, which are connected intermediate their ends with the front-axle. The rear end of the body is provided with hangers 17 which are connected with bear ings 18. The hangers are bolted Or other- Wise secured to the side bars of the chassis (see Fig. and the rear axle is rotatab-ly received in the bearings. It will be further observed from Fig. 5 that the lefthand Wheel is an idler, whereas the opposed wheel iskeyedto the axleto be driven thereby. With this arrangement, the relative difierence in speeds of the rear wheels is compensated for when turning corners and the like.

It has been before intimated that the toy operates under the influence of motive power, preferably electricity. In carrying out thisend, I provide a comparatively small battery 19 which is suitably supported on the'c'hassis and is disposed within the aforesaid hood. In practice, the hood will be constructed of sections to permit access to be had to the battery for removing it, and the sections of the hood, as shown will be provided with suitable retaining clips. In association'with the battery, is a motor 230 which is supported upon the aforesaid rod,

in any appropriate manner. This motor is supplied with a driving armature shaft 21 which extends laterally from one side and as seen more clearly in Fig. 3, there is a brake drum 22 keyed on the armature shaft. A brake band 23, which is secured to the motor as at 24, surrounds the drum,

the free ends of the band being connected together by a-spring25 which-serves to normally contract the band about the drum to apply the braking action. Supported from an ear 26 on the motor is a control lever or arm 27 which is pivoted between its ends on the ear as seen and is connected at its lower end to one of the ears of the brake band. It is desired to provide means for aet-uatingthe lever 27 in a manner to release the band'at a predetermined time and in accomplishing this end, I provide an electromagnet 28 which is supported in a'cylinder The core of the magnet is disposed in a position adjacent the upper free end of the lever 27 and when the magnet is energized as will be seen later, the lever 27 is rocked upon its pivot in a manner to engage its upper end with the core of the magnet. 'Such movement of the lever releases the brake band against the action of the spring 25 and permits free rotation of the armature shaft. At this point, it is thought convenient 'to state that .the electroanagnet is provided with binding posts 29 and 30. A wire 31 is connected with the post QQat-one end and is connected at its opposite .end to a detailto be later de scribed; Thereis also a comparatively short wire 32 and this is connected with the post and with athird binding-post 33 on the motor. To the other binding post 34 of the motor, another wire 35 is connected. As seenfrom Fig. 1, the wire 35 leads directly to one of theibinding posts onv the aforesaid battery.

Considering further the electric motive power, I now direct attention to, Fig. 2 wherein I have shown the foot-operated cir cuit-control means enlarged. The means under consideration preferably comprises a plunger 36 which passes slidably through an inclined cylinder 37 on the aforesaid footboard. Any suitable means may be employed for providing a connection between .the cylinder and foot-board. Also, the

cylinder itself may be of any suitable construction, for insteance, as shown to permit access to be hadto the interior. It 1s to be observed that thelower-end of the plunger equipped with a shoulder ll which abuts the upper end of the cylinder to limit the sliding movement of the plunger 1110116 di- =rection. Withthis arrangement, it is obvious that the spring 39 serves to maintain theplnnger in raised position as shown. On

the outside of the cylinder are vertically spaced binding posts 42 and agrespectively which are bridged by a connector-44 of electroconductive material. There is also an intermediate binding post 45 carried by the cylinder. A resistance coil or wire 4-? is connected at one end with the upper post 42 and at its opposite end with the intermediate post 4:5 and the last named post is equipped with a contact 4:7 with whicha reacting part 48 on the plunger is 'engageable. To the lower binding post 43, anothercontact 49 'is connected. These contacts are vertically spaced and are adapted to be-selectively engaged by the part 48. 7

It is yetto be pointed out that (as seen in Fig. 4C) a trainof transmissiongears is (lisposed between the aforesaid supporting rod 15 and the rear axle, these gears being in constant mesh and'being housed in a single casing 50 which is suitably supported at its front end from the rod 15-and is supported at its opposite en d by the rear :axle. The gear 51 receives motion "from-a pinion-52 on the armature shaft-and the gear 51in turn imparts rotation to:a larger gear on the rear axle, through the medium of a pinion 54. 1th the arrangement shown, a fixed gear ratio is provided and the gears are in constant mesh so that the machine will not be permitted to'run freely even on inclines.

Referring again to the electric circuit, it will be seen that the current passing through the wire 81 and plunger and several binding posts on the manually controlled device is carried back to the battery through the Wire 55.

The operation of theautomobile is as fol lows :Upon applying pressure to the head 40 of the plunger 36 and moving it clownwardly against the action of the spring 39, the circuit closer 48 will be initially engaged with the upper contact 47 within the aforesaid cylinder 37. With this circuit closed, the motor will impart movement to the rear drive wheel through the medium of the atoresaidgearing. At this time, it will be observed that the resistance provided by the coil LG is thrown into the circuit and the machine runs at low speed. Upon app-lying further downward pressure on the plunger, the circuit closer 4-8 is engaged with the lower contact 49. As will be observed, with this arrangement of parts, the resistance is inactive and the machine runs at high speed. Should the operator, by chance, be accidentallythrown from the machine, it will be seen that as soon as his foot is released from the plunger, the spring will return it to its normal position, thus immediately opening the circuit and stopping the car. N hen the circuit is closed, the aforesaid magnet 28 is energized in a manner to rock the lever 27 on its pivot and to release the brake band. As soon as the circuit is opened however, the magnet is de-energized, the lever 27 released and the brake band automatically applied through the medium oi the spring 25.

If desired, a suitable switch 56 may be supplied at a convenient point on the rear of the machine for reversing the direction oi movement of the machine. Also, in practice, any suitable structure may be provided at the forward end of the vehicle for obtaining the desired steering connection between the rod 5 and front axle.

Although the specific details and their relative arrangements have been set forth, it is to be understood that variations may be resorted to within the scope of the adjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In an electrically controlled toy automobile, the combination of an electric propolling motor, a normally applied brake for arresting movement of the vehicle, an electric device for releasing said brake, an electric battery mounted upon the vehicle, conductors connecting said motor and said device in series and in circuit with said battery, and a spring-opened switch arranged in said circuit, said switch being positioned so as to be manually closed by the driver of the vehicle.

2. In an electrically controlled automobile, the combination of an electric propel ling motor directly and permanentlycoupled to the driving axle of the vehicle, a normally applied brake tor arresting rotation of said motor, an electric device for releasing said brake, an electric battery mounted upon the vehicle, conductors connecting said motor and said device in series and in circuit with said battery, and a spring-opened switch arranged in said circuit, said switch being positione-d so as to be manually closed by the driver of the vehicle.

In an electrically controlled toy automobile, the combination of an electric propelling motor, a normally applied brake for arresting movement of the vehicle, a lever for controlling said brake, an electric magnet operable upon said lever to release said brake, an electric battery mounted upon the vehicle, conductors connecting said motor and magnet in series and in circuit with said battery, and a spring-opened switch arranged in said circuit, said switch being positioned so as to be manually closed by the driver of the vehicle.

i. A structure as specified in claim 1, and in which the spring-opened switch comprises a foot-depressed plunger located on the footboard of the velncle.

RALPH J. rmoK. 

